Tom Brake

1. What do you plan to do in order to make sure you remain ‘in touch’ with the electorate?

Every week I hold surgeries in my constituency where people come and talk to me and give me their thoughts, problems and opinions. I also hold a monthly “Razz” where I set up a stall in Carshalton high street and invite passers by to chat at a time that is more convenient to them. I also attend many community events in which I meet people and am made aware of issues or causes that are raised by the community.

2. What makes you the best candidate for this constituency?

Most importantly I live here, and have done for over 25 years. I’m not someone who has come here to win or lose and election and then leave I’m a part of the community and I care about the place I live in. I’m a government minister, which means that I have more of a voice for my constituents in Westminster than other candidates would have. Finally, I have, so far handled around 100,000 pieces of casework. I do all I can to help those who I represent.

3. What would you have liked to have done differently during your time in Parliament?

I would have enjoyed the opportunity of holding a foreign affairs-related position because of my interest in foreign affairs.

4. In your opinion, is austerity working? What should we take from the state of the economy during this Government’s tenure?

I think that austerity is working but I accept that it has affected ordinary, hardworking people. I believe that the next government, rather than choosing harsher austerity measures squeezing the money and life out of the majority of citizens, should do more to make sure that the wealthiest in our society pay their dues.

5. Does (legal) immigration need more limitations or is it vital for the UK?

The Lib Dems are committed to making immigration work for Britain. We wantto make sure that our borders are secure but we acknowledge that immigrants do help to boost growth and prosperity in the country. Immigrants set up 1 in 7 new businesses in the UK. We are the only party dedicated to firm but compassionate policies on immigration.

6. Many people are concerned about the cost of living in the UK, with wages having failed to rise in line with the price of food, energy and rent in recent years. How can this be corrected?

We need to carry on with the process of economic recovery. The coalition government has done much to help the economy recover at a steady rate and the Lib Dems have done much to make sure that the austerity measures haven’t hit the most vulnerable as hard as they could have done, if the Tories were left to run unchallenged. The Lib Dem goal is and always has been creating a stronger economy in a fairer society. Wages are now rising above inflation, which has fallen to extremely low levels.

7. How would you like to see the NHS change in the future in order to become more successful?

I wouldn’t want to change an awful lot about the NHS as an institution. I think hospitals perform admirably with the resources they are given. The Lib Dems have however, pledged to give more money to the NHS to improve its services and expand more into dealing with mental health. We would also help to protect the NHS from privatisation; we firmly believe that the NHS should remain well within public hands. We have pledged an extra £8 billion in extra funding for the NHS by 2020 and to give people equal rights to mental health treatment as they have for physical health

8. What measures do you think need to be taken to decrease unemployment, particularly youth unemployment and those who have never been employed?

We need to continue the work that we have been doing to create more jobs and apprenticeships for those who have recently left school, college or university and want to take up a trade. Since the last general election, the Lib Dems have helped to create 3,700 new jobs and 2,660 new apprenticeships in Carshalton and Wallington, well above the London and national average, so employment is rising. We want to do more to help those looking for work to find it. I am working with Sutton Council to boost employment of people with mental health problems who suffer from discrimination

9. Does the lack of diversity in Parliament equate to a lack of representation?

More and more is being done every year to make the government as inclusive as possible. We are constantly striving to make sure that ethnic and religious minorities as well as women and the LGBT community get as much representation as possible. We need to be incredibly cautious however, about giving unfair amount of representation to particular groups and avoid creating a culture of political factionalism. Because the Liberal Democrats are a local Party, we like to make sure that we have the most inclusive and diverse staff team. This is why we set up the leadership programme, which aims to give those from under-represented groups training in skills and leadership and make them more confident in getting their voiced herd in government.

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